Spinal massage apparatus



Oct. 23, 1934. T, M AR ER 1,978,223

SPINAL MASSAGE APPARATUS Filed Feb. 11, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 23, 1934. T PARKER 1,978,223

v SPINAL MASSAGE APPARATUS Filed Feb. 11, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Get. 23, 1934 Y UNITEDS'TATETS PATENT OFFICE SPINAL. MASSAGE APPARATUS Thomas M. Parker, Evanston, Ill. Application February 11, 1932, Serial No. 592,221

11 Claims. (01. 128-70)" My invention relates to therapeutic appliances, and more particularly to apparatus for spinal correction, and my main object is to provide an apparatus of this kind which provides a set of applicators which are adjustable for proper locations relative to the spinal processes.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for vibrating the applicators whereby to impart a massaging action to the muscles of the spinal processes.

A still further object of the invention is to incorporate heat units in the applicators for the purpose of increasing the circulation in the u muscles of the spinal processes as they are massaged.

A final and important object of the invention is to design the apparatus on simple and rugged lines and without parts of an intricate or compli- 4 cated nature.

accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 isa plan view of the novel apparatus partly broken away;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the same, including a sheet or cloth upon which the subject lies when taking the massage treatment;

Fig. '3 is an enlarged elevation of oneof the applicators; I l 4 Fig. 4 is an edge view thereof; and

j Figs. 5 and 6 are, respectively, sections on the lines 5-5 and 66 of Fig. 4.

Spinal massage has been found beneficial for the relief of various conditions, such as badpos ture, tension of thenervous system as found in insomnia, fibrosisof the spine, and other tender ciestoward body disorders or premature senility; While various methods and expedients have been applied to secure beneficial results, I have found none which combines all the factors productive of best results and have accordingly designed. the novel apparatus to include such factors and hilly accomplish the objects outlined. I

Referring specifically to the; drawings. the novel apparatus fundamentally involves a base 1.0 from which end posts 11;. and 12=rise to support a. table 13.. The post 12 corresponds to. the. frontal or head-end of the table, and has. an extension 1241 serving with the top of. the post as a. rest for a pillow 14, on. which the subject rests his head while lying on his back upon the table. That part of the table 13 which is under the trunk of the subject is open, as indicated at 13a.

The apparatus is built with a drop frame 1512xtending from the head post 12 to about. middle distance where a support 16 occurs between the table and, the drop frame. The drop frame. is preferably made with. side walls 150. to enclose a series of applicators 1.7., which will now be described.

Each applicator is comprised, of a. pair 01 inverted. substantially U-shaped. metallic hoods having, elongated substantially cylindrical tops as clearly shown. in Fig. 4 and mounted over. shanks 18 whose upper ends are preferably rounded as indicated, at 18a in Fig. 3. The hoods 1.7 are rockably mounted on the shanks by means of fulcrum screws 19, so that. they may be tilted or swung laterally'to a. limited extent. Each of the applicator hoods or components contains an electrical heat unit, which is supplied by conductors 20. which lead from a main, current source 21' the latter including an ammeter or other instrument 22 to indicate theamount. of current, entering the applicators, that. the. degree of heat therein may be determined.

The applicator series is intended to receive a vibrating motion in a longitudinal direction, and this. I impart jointly to. the applicators by means of a bar 23 extended longitudinally between the pairs of applicators. The bar contains end couplings 23a; for rod extensions 24 at the. front and rear, these being slidable. in bearings 25 built, into the post 12 and support 1.6- The rear rod 241pivotally connects. at 26 with a pitman 2'? leading. to. a pulley 28 carried by a. hanger 29 from the table 13. The pulley is built up. on its face with re.- tainers. 28a for a bolt. which. passes through, the corresponding end of. the: pitmanto receive a nut. 28173.. By sliding; the. bolt in the. retainer, the lateral adjustment of the pitman relative to the pulle za is. changed to suit the length of. the vibrations desired to be imparted to the pitman. The pulley- 28isrconnected, by a. belt 30 to the pulley 314 of. a speed reducing; unit. 32], the latter being driven by a motor 33. The vibrating action. of. the bar 23 istransmitted to the shanks 18 of each pair of. applicators H by means of screws. 34a and 35 extending. from opposite. sides, oi. the bar and passe tension type numbered 38 with suitable bases 38a and handwheels 3817. It will be evident that the slotted formation 18b of the shanks 18 will permit the applicators to be raised or lowered without affecting their connection with the vibrating bar 23. It should be understood that I make no claim for the particular type of jack employed, simply illustrating the preferred one as a matter of example. 1

It isalso desirable that each pair of applicators should be made with its components adjustable toward and away from each other. For this purpose, I provide blocks 39 to act as fillers for the shanks 18 in the zone of the screws 34 and 35, the shanks being preferably made of hollow sheet metal construction as indicated in Fig. 5. The screws 34 and 35 are threaded through the respective blocks 39 and their threads run in opposite directions. They are anchored by cross pins 350; in the ends of a bushing 35?) which passes loosely through the bar 23. One of the screws is extended through a vertical opening in one of the walls 15a of the drop frame 15 to receive a hand-knob 40. It is seen that by turning the latter, both screws will be rotated through their common connection with the bushing 351); however, the screws being of reverse threads, the applicator components will either gather or spread according to the direction of rotation. The blocks 39 are sufiiciently loose in the shanks 18 to permit the shanks to assume a limited amount of angularity due to the gathering or. spreading of the applicator components, since these are pivotally united to their lower sections as indicated at 180 in Fig. 4.

' The pivotal mounting at 19 of the applicator hoods 17 is also adjustable by a control now to be described. This control originates with a thumb screw 41 which is threaded through a cross head 42 secured between the lower sections of the shanks 18, these containing filler blocks 43 in order that screws 44 may pass through the latter and into the sides of the cross head to secure the same, as clearly shown. inFig. 6. The remote end of the thumb screw 41makes a ball-joint 41a with thelower end 4511 of, a vertical frame .45

which extends along the rear of each applicator bar and rises into thehoods 17' in the form of an arch 451) formed with bosses 45c suitable .for receiving screws 46 from the side of the applicator to firmly secure the same to the arch45b. The

frame 45 toward or away from the applicator with the result that the hood thereof is rocked to different angular positions. It will be understood thatthc swinging actionof the frame 45 is so limited as to be free of binding action at the balljoint.

' The spacing of the applicator hoods 17 is so calculated as to locate them opposite the spinal processes of the subject, yet amply clearing the line of vertebrae which runs between such processes. The rounded form of the hoods is designed'to best fit the spinal processes, but-a suitable sheet orgcloth' 4'7 is preferablylaid over the array of applicators, as shown in Fig.2, in order that the subjects backmay be cushioned somewhat as itrnakes contact with the applicators. Also, such sheet or clothwill temper the heat of thehoods in case thelsubject issensitive to it. As indicated in Fig. 1, some of the applicators are spread mo're than the others, thisbeing made possible by the adjustment described above, and serving to suit different locations of treatment for one subject or another. Also, the angular individual adjustment of the applicator hood adapts them for the greatest comfort and most favorable working angle of the applicator.

It will be seen that by means of the novel apparatus, I am able to procure a vibratory massage which is parallel to the fibres of the longitudinal muscles that support the spine, yet to massage as close to the spinal processes as possible without irritating them, passing directly posterior to the spinal nerves, ganglia, and sympathetic nerve chain. Further, imparting heat to the applicators induces a greater supply of blood and circulation thereof in the zone massaged, relieving hypertension, a condition where the nerve centers lack blood, and fibrosis of the spine. Further, with the spreading adjustment of the applicator components, not only can an irregular course of massage be secured to suit the particular subject, but some of the applicators can be spread out or removed at zones where treatment is not wanted or considered desirable, so that only the balance of the applicators act. Finally, the novel apparatus is a structure of simplicity and durability, having no delicate complicated or highly accurate parts, which require special attention or are subject to disorder.

I claim:----

1. A spinal massage applicator comprising a pair of companion shanks, applicator units carried in the top of said shanks, a vibratory bar be tween the shanks, the latter being vertically slotted, and stems extending from the vibratory bar through the slots in the shanks, whereby to connect the shanks horizontally with the bar for vibration and give the shanks vertical clearance relative to the stems by means of said slots.

2. A spinal massage apparatus comprising a pair of companion shanks, applicator units carried in the top of the said shanks, a vibratory bar between the shanks, the latter being horizontally tapped in registration, a bushing freely disposed in the bar, and reversely threaded screws extending from the bushing and threading into the respective shanks, whereby to gather or separate them according to the direction in which the screws are turned.

3. The structure of claim 2, and means to rigidly connect the screws with the bushing.

4. The structure of claim 2, the shanks being of hollow metallic construction, and blocks inserted in the shanks in the zone of passage of the screws, said blocks containing the tapped portions for the screws.

5. The structure of claim 2, the shanks being of hollow construction and vertically positioned, and pivot means between the shanks for the lower sections, and blocks inserted in the shanks in the zone of passage of said screws and tapped to receive the same, said blocks being sufiiciently loose in the shanks to permit the pivotal gathering orseparation of the shanks as induced by the rotation of the screws without binding the latter.

6. A spinal massage apparatus comprising a pair of companion shanks, rockable hoods carried at the top thereof and serving as applicator units, downwardextensions of the hoods alongside the applicator shanks, a cross head carried by the lower sections of the shanks, a thumb screw threaded horizontally through the cross head, and a ball-joint between the thumb screw and the lower portions of the extension, the operation of the thumb screw swinging the extension with the effect of rocking the hood.

7. In massage apparatus of the class described, the combination with a frame including a supporting table having an opening therein for access to the body portion to be treated, of a plurality of applicators arranged in said frame at said opening, each of said applicators comprising a pair of vertical shanks, a support at the lower ends of said shanks to which the shanks are pivoted to permit swinging movement of said applicators longitudinally of said opening, said shanks also being mounted for relative lateral movement with respect to each other to vary the spacing therebetween, means for effecting said lateral movement between said shanks, a hood carried at the top of each of said shanks and serving as an applicator unit, said hoods being tiltably mounted on said shanks, whereby to vary the angle of inclination of the hoods and thereby vary their angle of presentation to the body under treatment, and means for tilting said hoods on said shanks.

8. In massage apparatus of the class described, the combination with a frame including a supporting table having an opening therein for access to the body portion to be treated, of a plurality of applicators arranged in said frame at said opening, each of said applicators comprising a pair of vertical shanks, a supporting block arranged between the lower ends of said shanks and to which the shanks are pivoted to permit swinging movement of said applicators longitudinally of said opening, said shanks also being pivoted with respect to said supporting block for relative lateral movement with respect to each other to vary the spacing therebetween, means for effecting said lateral movement between said shanks, a hood carried at the top of each of said shanks and serving as an applicator unit, said hoods being tiltably mounted on said shanks, whereby to vary the angle of inclination of the hoods and thereby to vary their angle of presentation to the body under treatment, and means for tilting said hoods on said shanks.

9. In massage apparatus of the class described, the combination with a frame including a supporting table having an opening therein for access to the body portion to be treated, of a plurality of applicators arranged in said frame at said opening, each of said applicators comprising a pair of vertical shanks, a support at the lower ends of said shanks to which the shanks are pivoted to permit swinging movement of said applicators longitudinally of said opening, a hood carried at the top of each of said shanks and serving as an applicator unit, said hoods being of inverted substantial U-shape and provided with elongated substantially cylindrical tops to serve as applicator units, said hoods being tiltably mounted on said shanks, whereby to vary the angle of inclination of the hoods and thereby to vary their angle of presentation to the body under treatment, and means for tilting said hoods on said shanks.

10. In massage apparatus of the class described, the combination with a frame including a supporting table having an opening therein for access to the body portion to be treated, of a plurality of applicators arranged in said frame at said opening, each of said applicators comprising a pair of vertical shanks, a support at the lower ends of said shanks to which the shanks are pivoted to permit swinging movementof said applicators longitudinally of said opening, a hood carried at the top of each of said shanks and serving as an applicator unit, said hoods being of inverted substantial U-shape and provided with elongated substantially cylindrical tops to serve as applicator units, said hoods being tiltably mounted on said shanks, whereby to vary the angle of inclination of the hoods and thereby to vary their angle of presentation to the body under treatment, and a common actuating device operatively related to said hoods for tilting the same on said shanks.

11. In massage apparatus of the class described, the combination with a frame including a supporting table having an opening therein for access to the body portion to be treated, of a plurality of applicators arranged in said frame at said opening, each of said applicators comprising a pair of vertical shanks, a support at the lower ends of said shanks to which the shanks are pivoted to permit swinging movement of said applicators longitudinally of said opening, said shanks also being mounted for relative lateral movement with respect to each other to vary the spacing therebetween, means for eifecting said lateral movement between said shanks, an inverted U shaped hood carried at the top of each of said shanks and being tiltably mounted thereon, said hoods also having elongated substantially cylindrical tops and serving as applicator units, an operating connection in engagement with each of said hoods to tilt the latter with respect to the vertical shank which supports the same, and a common operating device associated with said operating connections to actuate the 

